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Support => Terragen Support => Topic started by: Mor on March 20, 2014, 01:26:26 PM

Title: Distance shader problem with clouds
Post by: Mor on March 20, 2014, 01:26:26 PM
Distance shader doesn't seem to work properly if cloud coverage is increased. The more cloud coverage, the more foggy masked area becomes.
Version is Terragen 3 build 3.1.02.0
Here's example images:

Title: Re: Distance shader problem with clouds
Post by: Oshyan on March 20, 2014, 03:05:37 PM
Are you using Coverage Adjust in the Density Fractal or in the Cloud Shader?

- Oshyan
Title: Re: Distance shader problem with clouds
Post by: Mor on March 21, 2014, 03:15:08 AM
I used it in cloud shader.
Title: Re: Distance shader problem with clouds
Post by: Dune on March 21, 2014, 03:24:07 AM
If you mask the cloud fractal, coverage doesn't work properly. Hasn't done as long as I know TG. Best to not use coverage, but modify the fractal, or mask the final input of the cloud hsdare instead of the fractal.
Title: Re: Distance shader problem with clouds
Post by: Oshyan on March 25, 2014, 09:42:38 PM
I'm fairly sure Coverage Adjust in the Cloud Shader is "working properly" it's just a misunderstanding of how it works. It is adjusting the "offset", i.e. it's adding to the value coming into the Density Shader input. The value range is from 0 to 1, so any positive offset will inherently make the "baseline" (the "darks") greater than 0, which gives a light overall coverage, i.e. this ugly, flat, grey sky. The reason it works better/differently in the Density Fractal noise function is that the fractal generates both positive and negative values, so offsetting it there - before it gets to the cloud layer - produces the more likely intended result of expanding the "light" areas since they are being lifted out of "negativeness".

- Oshyan
Title: Re: Distance shader problem with clouds
Post by: Dune on March 26, 2014, 02:55:15 AM
In fact that's what I meant, but it's good you explained better, which I didn't. Perhaps if you'd clamp the colors in the fractal, it 'works better'... don't know really, never tried.
Title: Re: Distance shader problem with clouds
Post by: Mor on March 31, 2014, 07:25:46 AM
Thanks for the explanations, really helped understanding a bit more or should I say cleared the sky a bit more :)